A Republican, Cobb is currently in talks with party leaders in Camden and Gloucester counties, as well as meeting with South Jersey business leaders before formally announcing his candidacy.

“He has a very strong intention to run,” said Gloucester County Republican Chairman Kevin Murphy on Thursday. “We are looking at him, both (Camden County GOP) Chairman Thomas Booth and I, and we’re strongly considering him.

“We believe he’d be a great candidate.”

Cobb, who currently resides in Cherry Hill, played in the NFL for 11 years, including time with the Eagles from 1985 until 1987, before working as a radio sports talk personality.

Pat Breslin, a Republican city commissioner in Bethlehem, Pa., and a friend of Cobb’s for the past 20 years, described the 56-year-old prospective candidate as a “social and economic conservative, in the model of Ronald Reagan.”

“He’s very passionate on federal issues,” he said. “He’s very passionate, and very civic-minded.”

According to Breslin, Cobb, who has never before run for political office, intends to meet with “business and civic leaders” before making the final decision to run for Andrews’ seat.

“It’s not official but he’s leaning in that direction,” said Breslin. “I’ve known him for 20 years, and he always does his due diligence. He wants to meet with a couple more people before making a decision either way in the next few weeks.”

Democratic State Sen. Donald Norcross, from Camden, has already announced he’ll seek Andrews’ post. Andrews, state Senate President Steve Sweeney and Camden Mayor Dana Redd, among others, have already thrown their support behind the Fifth District senator.

Republicans are hoping to position Cobb as a political outsider, as opposed to Norcross, a South Jersey party leader and brother of Democratic powerbroker George Norcross.

“It’s time to return the government to the people,” said Murphy. “Bring the government back to the people and away from the career politicians.”